Fresh City - Natick, MA Informative - Watch Out For This Scam

NATICK, MASSACHUSETTS -- I visited Fresh City on Rt.9E in Natick on 5/8/08 in the evening. I placed an order for a burrito grande (a vegetarian item) with an African American server. After struggling for 5 minutes with a bag of tortilla he pulled out one and slowly added Spanish rice. The he added meat on to it! I immediately pointed out that the item is vegetarian. He placed it aside and proceeded to remove another tortilla out of the bag. This time he pulled one out fast,added Spanish rice, beans, salsa and the he asked me whether I wanted guacamole. I said yes.

Finally my burrito was ready after 10 minutes. This should not take more than 3 minutes. When I asked him whether the burrito came with chips he said he was not sure. When I took this to the cash register the lady at the cash register charged me $6.60 instead of $5.29 because I wanted guacamole in the burrito. This is absurd! $1.30 more for a teaspoon of guacamole! This was highway robbery! I told her that the server did not tell me that I would be charged extra for the guacamole. She would not listen to me. She also told me that the burrito did not come with chips.I know that the Fresh City in Woburn provides chips with burrito grande.

Because I was in a hurry I gave her $7.00 and went near the door. Then, I saw some chips and paper boats near the door. I grabbed some chips and left. When I reached home I realized that the cashier had not returned my 40 cent change! I have had similar problems at Fresh City in Newton (Highland ave.).

1. The server being African American has nothing to do with it. (seem to get more of that kind of comments from Yankees..go figure)
2. takes longer than you think
3. you are a thief for stealing the chips the .40 was partial payment.
4. Apparently Woburn does, Natick doesn't.
5. You need to fix your own food at home.

Posted by Anonymous on 2008-05-09:

I honestly didn't think the poster was making a racial commentary. I took it to mean that the server who took the order was African-American and the remainder of the staff were white (thereby identifying the server). To me, it sounds like this server at this Fresh City is not well-trained (he didn't know policies regarding chips and he erred by putting meat in a vegetarian burrito). I hesitate to label someone a thief over a paper boat of chips. The customer was accustomed to getting free chips at another Fresh City. Given the clueless behavior of the server at this one, I doubt he was given accurate 'chip' information. Besides, if the chips were not complimentary, they should be behind a counter, rather than next to the door. Better luck next burrito, poster.

Posted by Billium on 2008-05-09:

He was comparing the service between one restaurant and another that he frequented.
1. Why are you stereotyping him without knowing him?
2. Takes shorter than you think. 10 minutes is at a sit down and order restaurant. However, I do think he may have mistimed it and that it didn't actually take 10 minutes.
3. One could put it that as the .40 was stolen from him first, taking the chips was partial payment.
4. Franchises ought to maintain some level of consistency, especially with the menu. McDonald's Combo Meals will always have the same things.
5. If everyone fixed their food at home, then restaurants would be out of business.

Posted by Anonymous on 2008-05-09:

I like your thought processes, Billium. You are able to grasp that not every post is an opportunity for us to bash the poster.

Posted by tander on 2008-05-09:

Why couldn't the server just said, "server" what does African American have to do with anything. If I went somewhere and was waited on I wouldn't of said, "the american white girl", blah blah, this review totally turned me off with that remark.

Posted by jktshff1 on 2008-05-10:

Ghost, I see your point, but the African American term has no place in this post. If the op was writing to corporate headquarters or the owner of the franchise about the incident, yes, for identification purposes, but as a generic complaint, no.
Not bashing the poster or stereotyping , just bringing up what I believe are inconsistencies in the op's thought process.
Most franchises have "local customs" for lack of a better word, that they offer their customers, free drink, different specials etc. Ever notice the "not available at all locations" saying on the advertising?
Shoplifting is a crime..it's theft period, there is no excuse for that and that is exactly what the op did.
The server made a mistake with the change or the op left in a hurry and forgot it. Can't really tell from the post. Bring it to their attention, and they will fix it.
Ten minutes for "sit down" food is too short depending upon what you are ordering. That would tell me that it is pre-prepared and heated up and served.

Posted by jktshff1 on 2008-05-10:

BTW Ghost, added you to my trust list.

Posted by Anonymous on 2008-05-10:

I see your point as well, jktshff1. I honestly think the poster put the 'African American' comment in harmlessly in an effort to support credibility of the complaint (by setting a verifiable time frame). I know it is only my assumption, because there is no way for me to know the op's intent. I also agree that the op forgot his change...probably because he was upset...and was also distracted by the opportunity for 'free chips' as a 'payback' for what he perceived as poor service. While I understand the concept of 'local customs', I still don't see the taking of a few chips (even out of a sense of angry self-entitlement) to be 'shoplifting'. At the worst, it was childish. Besides, the op forgot his change and paid about $200/lb for guacamole...if that ain't 'karma'. LOL.
Thanks for the trust, jktshff1. I also enjoy reading your comments.

Posted by jktshff1 on 2008-05-10:

If my momma had caught me taking a penny piece of gum (yes it was a penny when I was young) she would have whipped me (I had to pick the switch)AND made me return it and apologize.

Posted by Anonymous on 2008-05-10:

I don't understand how the race of the server is relevant to this review. I noticed the OP didn't state the race of the "lady at the cash register"... hmmm... speaks volumes, eh? Also the OP seems to have no moral qualms with stealing. Lovely.

Posted by Anonymous on 2008-05-10:

Me too! LOL We have the same generational experiences. I also realize that people 'do stupid' when they perceive mistreatment or if someone violates there perceptions of self-entitlement. Is the op as pure as driven snow? Nope. Does this establishment sound like one I would patronize? Nope. Matters of alleged 'stealing' and race-baiting aside, the business sounds like it does not employ motivated workers, or properly train potentially good ones.

Posted by Anonymous on 2008-05-10:

Lois/Stew-I think we have become so Pavlovian conditioned to look for racism, that we will find it in the most innocent of places. 'African-American' is not an epithet, nor was it used as one by the OP. Gosh, I've even put an extra packet of sugar in my pocket 'for later' when visiting a diner...according to Sharia Law, my right hand must be amputated, as I am a thief! Must I be banished from m3c because I, too, am human and have failed similarly to the OP? Respectfully, Lois/Stew, check your pencils...I'll bet you haven't cut the erasers off of them. All best.